UCI Continental Teams and Women's Teams

Welcome to the homepage for the 2015 UCI Continental and Women's Teams. On here you will find all of the information we have on the logistics of forming, registering, and maintaining a UCI Continental Team or Women's Team. In case you have navigated here by accident, this information is specific to what the UCI has defined as a UCI Continental Team.

Until 2005, this would have been called a UCI Division (or Tier) III Trade Team. These teams make up the bulk of our international teams. The other names you will hear are UCI Professional Continental Team (ex Tier II) and UCI Pro Team (ex Tier I). These latter two types of teams are managed directly by the UCI and the material here is not generally applicable to them. We also manage the UCI Women's Teams. The information here is the same for men and women in most of the cases. Where differences exist, the information for women's teams will be in parentheses.

If you ever need assistance with any aspect of your team process, please do not hesitate to contact Tom Mahoney. One of the benefits of being on a UCI continental team is that you have a dedicated USA Cycling staff contact. I can be reached at: tmahoney@usacycling.org. You can call me at my direct work number, 719-434-4216.

1. Team Composition and General Principles

A UCI Continental Team is made up of a minimum of eight riders and a maximum of 16. To be registered with USA Cycling, 60 percent of your riders must have US citizenship (i.e. a UCI code that starts with USA). The majority of the riders must also have a racing age of less than 28 (new in 2014, this age rule does not apply to women's teams). The magic number this year is 1988! Any rider born in 1988 or later counts as one of your young riders for the age ratio. All riders on the team must have a road category 1. If you have foreign riders on your team that are licensed by another federation, they must have their federation’s equivalent of a category 1. Please note that we do not upgrade cat 2 and cat 3 riders to cat 1 because they "need" to be upgraded because you want them on your teams. Please choose your riders accordingly.

Also, any specialists on your team must be USA citizens and they do not count into the 60 percent rule. That means without considering the specialists, the team must have 60 percent of the riders be USA citizens. The age restriction also includes your specialists. In other words, more than half of your riders must be under 28 including the specialists. The table below shows the number of USA riders your team must have for a given team size:

Number on Team

Number of U.S. Riders

8

5

9

6

10

6

11

7

12

8

13

8

14

9

15

9

16

10

For UCI women's team, the nationality is not calculated the same way. For the women's teams, the USA must be the most represented country, but there does not have to be an absolute majority, and definitely not the 60 percent. Thus, a UCI women's team can be registered in the United States if out of eight riders, two were American and then there were six riders from six individual countries. Note that the UCI rules say, "majority", but that is not what they really mean, as majority would mean 50 percent.

In addition to the 16-rider maximum, a team may have a maximum of four extra riders who are specialists in other endurance disciplines, such as track (scratch, points race, pursuit, madison), mountain bike (cross-country, marathon), or cyclo-cross, provided that these riders were in the top 150 of the final UCI classification for that discipline in the previous season (top 100 for women's teams). As of August 1, the team can also add two riders in the U23 class, provided these riders have not already been on a UCI team. Lastly, you can add a rider at any time during the season if that rider has not been on any UCI team in the current season.

Every rider on the team must have a contract for a fixed period that ends on December 31. However, for these teams there are no rules regarding what the compensation must be. Whatever it is, it must be spelled out explicitly in the contract. In addition, if a rider is to be paid a salary per the contract, the only method of payment allowed is direct deposit into the rider's bank account, the specifics of which must also be included in the contract.

The United States can register 15 continental teams and women's teams with the UCI.

2. Team Participation

Once a rider is on your team, he can ride in two kinds of races: UCI races anywhere in the world or national races in the United States. Riders on continental teams do not need Foreign Permission Letters to ride abroad.

The UCI rules are very specific. For men's teams, there are no mixed teamsallowed in international races at the elite level. The race director/organizer cannot give an exception to this. USA Cycling cannot give an exception to this. Therefore your riders can only ride an international race in two ways: as a regular member of your team or as a member of a USA Cycling national team when it is participating as such in the race. The latter is only allowed if your continental team is not riding the race. If you have foreign riders on your team, they would be subject to the same rule. For example, if you have a Mexican rider on your team, he may ride an international race as part of the Mexican national team, but only if your continental team is not participating. (For UCI women's teams, there is the possibility of mixed teams in level 2 events (1.2 or 2.2)).

It is important to remember that being on a UCI continental or women's team does not mean you are automatically selected for any particular race. Each UCI event is by invitation only. A UCI race organizer must meet UCI rules when extending invitations to their events, and since these rules include a minimum number of non-American teams, there may not be enough space in certain races for each American team. Depending on the level of race and the location, the organizer will be choosing between UCI ProTeams, UCI professional continental teams, UCI continental teams, national teams, and regional/club teams. Each team must contact the race organizer to secure an invitation. The UCI does have specific rules regarding invitations. For example, for men's elite races with a 0.1 and 0.2 designation in the Americas, race directors must invite the top three continental teams in the UCI continental circuits rankings. For women's world cups, the race directors must invite the 15 best-ranked teams on UCI points.

3. Contracts

Each rider must have a contract that expires on December 31. The contracts must meet the minimum standards given in the model contract. Please note that no provision in the contract is valid if it goes against the basic nature of the year-long contract unless it is in the rider's favor. In other words, you cannot include a provision in the contract that says, "the team may terminate this contract at its discretion for any reason" or "the team may terminate this contract at its discretion of the rider fails to perform up to team standards" or such language. Such a contract would essentially mean there is no contract at all.

Your team may be based in a state known for "at will employment", but a UCI continental team is not an "at will" employer. If you hire a rider, presume it is for the whole year. Our auditor will be carefully checking contracts to make sure they meet the minimum standards and do not contain any "out clauses" that effectively invalidate the nature of a contract. The contracts must even have a statement in them that acknowledges that any statement that differs from the model contract is null and void unless it is in the favor of the rider.

4. Insurance

Part of the registration process will be for the teams to prove that each rider on their team has adequate medical insurance that covers sickness, accidents, and repatriation. The UCI rules also specify civil liability, but a USA Cycling license carries that coverage automatically anyway. As a team you may purchase health insurance for your riders or require them to purchase it. Either way, it will be up to the team to document that such insurance exists. The UCI has provided a form to register your riders and track their insurance. These two insurance forms — riders (UCI annex D.1) and team staff (UCI annex D.2) — must also be submitted to the auditor with the packets.

5. Roster Changes

The UCI has imposed strict limits on how and when team rosters can be changed. The official roster change period is June 1, 2015 to June 25, 2015. Any changes will require a new audit and review process.

In addition to the normal roster changes in this period, there are two other ways your roster can be changed:

At any time during the season, you can add a rider if that rider meets all criteria and has not had a contract with a UCI team in 2015.

As of August 1, 2015, you can add two U23 riders to your roster. Note that USA Cycling must submit those names to the UCI BEFORE August 1. These U23 riders cannot have been on another UCI team in the past.

6. Key Dates for Team Registration

OCTOBER 31, 2014 — USA Cycling must submit the list of teams that it intends to register to the UCI. This means that at a minimum, we need to know the name of the team. If we submit a team called Billy Joe’s Bike Shop/Raleigh to the UCI by this date, we may be able to register a team by December 10 that is called Billy Joe’s Bike Shop/Della Santa. However, if no part of the team name is the same, it may be rejected by the UCI. Therefore you would be well advised to have your primary sponsor lined up before you commit to this process. USA Cycling may submit registration packets to the UCI anytime after this date, assuming your packet is complete and your audit has been finished. Please also note that as a UCI continental team, you may have a maximum of two names in your title, which would be your two primary sponsors. You also cannot have the word "professional" in it.

NOVEMBER 3, 2014 — This is the FINAL DATE applications will be accepted by USA Cycling and our auditor, Waugh Associates. Applications received after this date will not be processed and will not be submitted to the UCI. Auditing Fees are due on this date. Mail packets to Waugh and Goodwin, LLP, 1365 Garden of the Gods Road, Suite 150, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.

NOVEMBER 25, 2014 — You must wire the UCI fee (4,500 euros for men, 2,000 euros for women) to the UCI bank by this date.

DECEMBER 5, 2014 — USA Cycling must submit all completed continental team registration paperwork to the UCI on this date. All other fees to USA Cycling are due on this date.

MARCH 31, 2015 — Bank guarantees from the 2013 season due back to teams will be mailed by USA Cycling on this date.

JUNE 1-25, 2015 — All 2014 UCI roster transactions will take place during this period.

AUGUST 1, 2015 — Addition of U23 riders to roster must be submitted by USA Cycling to the UCI by this date.

7. Associated Fees for Registering a Team

The following tables show the fees involved in this process, who they go to, when they are payable, and how they should be sent:

Continental Teams

Fee

Payable To

Deadline

Method

$800

Waugh & Goodwin, LLP

November 3, 2014

Certified Check

4,500 euros

Union Cycliste Internationale

November 25, 2014

Wire Transfer

$4,000

USA Cycling

December 5, 2014

Certified Check

$800 (RaceClean)

USA Cycling

December 5, 2014

Certified Check

Women's Teams

Fee

Payable To

Deadline

Method

$800

Waugh & Goodwin, LLP

November 3, 2014

Certified Check

2,000 euros

Union Cycliste Internationale

November 25th, 2014

Wire Transfer

$2,000

USA Cycling

December 5, 2014

Certified Check

$800 (RaceClean)

USA Cycling

December 5, 2014

Certified Check

In addition to these fees, there is also a bank guarantee of either 20,000 euros or 15 percent of the total salary package of your riders and staff, whichever is greater. If you are a first time team, this bank guarantee will be in the form of a certified check. If you are a returning team, there is a procedure for rolling over your guarantee from last year, as explained in detail in the FAQ.

8. The Registration and Auditing Process

The following are the proper steps for registering a UCI continental team:

Note that the wire to the UCI is about 10 days before we have to have the packets to them, so plan accordingly.

5. Waugh & Goodwin, LLP will provide you with a total amount due to USA Cycling to cover your bank guarantee. Mail a check for that amount made out to the name of the entity responsible for your bank guarantee (team name or management company name) to the attention of Tom Mahoney by certified mail (Must be received by December 5, 2014). At the same time, mail a check to USA Cycling for the $4,000 fee.

6. Compile signed International license applications and mail them to USA Cycling attn: Tom Mahoney. (NOTE: Professional licenses CANNOT be purchased online.)

It is assumed that a foreign rider on your team will be living in the USA for more than half the year. Therefore, UCI rules specify that it is USA Cycling that issues their license. This also means they need to have an address in the United States. In the rare case where a foreign rider must retain his international license from his home federation, such a rider will have to purchase, at a minimum, a USA Cycling domestic license. This is so we can adequately track the rider and give the rider's whereabouts to USADA. It also ensures that the rider is covered by adequate civil liability insurance.

7. Waugh continues to review the documents and once they meet all the UCI regulations, they’ll send an auditors report to USA Cycling and notify you.

8. If the bank guarantee is in order when the auditors report arrives, USA Cycling will notify the UCI of your team’s successful completion of the registration process, and we will submit all paperwork to the UCI. The paperwork is substantial and requires wet signatures. To arrive in Switzerland by December 10, it has to leave Colorado Springs on December 5. Please plan accordingly.

9. When the UCI lists your team on their official roster on the UCI website, the process is complete.

10. When the team is listed on the UCI roster, USA Cycling will process the rider and support staff licenses. Unless you request otherwise, all copies will be mailed directly to the team director.

11. If you make roster changes, the new rider contracts and $125 per rider added must be sent to Waugh and Associates, and the UCI change form (UCI annex G1) must be submitted to USA Cycling.

9. The Bank Guarantee

The UCI has again set the minimum bank guarantee as 20,000 euros or 15 percent of the salary package for the riders and staff, whichever is higher. We have set up a bank in Colorado Springs that will manage the bank guarantees and processes. You will provide USA Cycling with a check for the appropriate amount and it will be deposited in a sub-account dedicated to your team. The bank guarantee should be satisfied by certified check.

The teams will also fill out and sign a bank guarantee agreement with USA Cycling that explains the nature of the bank guarantee and claims process.

If you wish to use your 2014 bank guarantee on file with USA Cycling toward your 2015 team, you may do so after submitting signed copies of the Bank Guarantee Release Letter included here and after paying all fines due the UCI and USA Cycling from 2014 or previous seasons. This letter, if signed by all 2014 riders and team staff, will release the 2014 bank guarantee money for the team’s use in 2015. If the bank guarantee on file with USA Cycling is less than the amount due for 2015, the team will then make up the difference. If your team sponsorship has decreased and your guarantee on file is more than what you need this year, and there are no challenges, then the difference will be refunded if you so request.

This Article Published September 24, 2014
For more information contact: tmahoney -at- usacycling dot org

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